Profiling the Profession
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v23| no1 annual march conference 2012 2012 Charlie Jeffery, Chair, Political Studies Association The Annual Conference – back in Belfast for the fi rst time since 1997 – is looming large on the horizon. Our two convenors from the University of Ulster – Paul Carmichael, the Association Honorary Secretary and Cathy Gormley-Heenan have put together an outstanding programme for the event, taking place from 3rd-5th April at the Europa Hotel in Belfast. The overarching theme is ‘In Defence of Politics’, echoing the title of the late and lamented Sir Bernard Crick’s classic PSA 2012 work from 1962, and calling on us to refl ect on the roles political debate, politicians and political scientists have – or should be playing – in democratic society. profi ling the profession: Annual new survey of academics within political studies We have an outstanding round-table discussion precisely on Charlie Jeffery, Chair, Political Studies Association Conference this theme to kick the conference off, with David Blunkett MP, Peter Riddell and Matt Flinders, a closing plenary lecture by Mr “The survey of the profession is He pointed out that a similar survey took place Speaker, John Bercow MP, and much in-between: contributions important in establishing a detailed in 2009. “It is vital that we continue to up- on Northern Ireland including from Brendan O’Leary, Martin date our information periodically. This allows McGuinness and Monica McWilliams, roundtables organised by and representative profi le of the us to monitor the changing characteristics and the British Journal of Politics and International Relations on profession”, Professor Charlie Jeffery attitudes of academics and to assess the impact 3-5 April devolution and the UK political economy, special sessions on told Political Studies Association of changing government education policy on REF and Impact (with the REF Panel Chair Colin Hay) and the News. political studies in Higher Education”. impact on political studies of recent higher education policy (continued on page 14) reforms (with former VC and political scientist Roger King), a Europa Hotel new ‘Methods Cafeteria’ hosted by Gerry Stoker to exchange ideas and experience in innovative research methods, a special session on engagement and impact in and on Parliament committee elections 2012 Belfast with John Bercow and his counterpart in the Lords, Baroness d’Souza, over 160 panel sessions refl ecting the diversity At a time when higher education is facing major requested from the Membership Secretary, Sandra and pluralism of political studies in the UK, and of course change and social science appears to be under real McDonagh (on 0191 222 8021 or sandra.mcdonagh@ opportunity to explore one of Europe’s most transformed and pressure, with a serious decline in applications, it is ncl.ac.uk), should be posted to the Political Studies most engaging cities, Belfast. vital that the Political Studies Association fi ghts hard Association at 30 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A for the interests of political studies and this can only 4UE or emailed to [email protected] by noon Further Information be done with a strong and committed Executive. on 29th March. If the number of nominations for You will fi nd further information on the Belfast Conference the post of trustee exceeds the number of vacancies in this edition of Political Studies Association News. I hope This year sees a large number of positions on the an electronic ballot by single transferable vote of you will be able to join us. You will also fi nd in this edition, Association Executive Committee up for election. the whole membership will be held. If more than along with all the latest news from the discipline, a piece by In addition to the position of Honorary Treasurer, one nomination is received for the post of Honorary the Association Vice-Chair, Jacqui Briggs on the work she is a key post that carries with it membership of the Treasurer an electronic ballot by alternative vote of leading on a new education and skills agenda for UK political Association’s Management Committee, vacancies exist the whole membership will be held. studies, including a range of initiatives she is spearheading in for fi ve trustee positions, the varying terms of which connecting university political studies with school students commence on 29th June 2012. The Political Studies Association is committed to with an interest in politics, their teachers and parents. encouraging candidates from a diverse range of There can be few things more important to the future of the Nominations backgrounds. While taking full account of equal discipline than working through schools to ensure students All members should have now received notifi cation opportunities, nominations are particularly welcome continue to choose politics degrees. I hope very much of the vacancies on the Executive and been invited from ethnic minorities and disabled candidates who Association members will give Jacqui every support in her work. to send their nominations to the Returning Offi cer, are currently under-represented on the Executive Professor Paul Carmichael, who is also Honorary Committee. Secretary of the Association. Nomination forms, Voting will open in early April and close by which can be found on the Association’s website or midnight on 31st May. political studies association news what’s changed in 33 years? Steven Kennedy, Palgrave Macmillan association news profiling the profession: new survey of academics within political studies 01 Longstanding committee elections 2012 01 what’s changed in 33 years? 03 political studies...facing the challenges 04 Association members conference 2012 programme 06 conference 2012: travel information 11 beware! It seems that conference 2012: biographies 12 meet the editors: POLITICS 14 a third of a century policy press discount for members 14 of membership may call to confer political studies association of ireland postgraduate conference 2012 15 trigger a request from teaching social policy for the future 15 contemporary aristotelian studies group conference 15 the editor for your association links reminiscences. dialogue in japan 16 Steven Kennedy, Director Palgrave Macmillan supporting budding politics scholars 16 In my case, not only have I been a member Bigger not Better But a bigger reason by far is the change in specialist groups continuously since 1979 but I have been From a publishing point of view, a large the research culture of the UK since 1979, the politicisation of higher education 17 to every annual conference up to this (though sadly decreasing) proportion of my much professionalised to be sure, but with, in cardiff creative minds 18 year’s which unfortunately coincides with authors have been Association members and, my view, a severe over-emphasis on specialist change within american politics group 19 the International Studies Association in the early days, Association conferences publishing and devaluation - despite recent sport and the ‘Big Society’ 19 meeting in San Diego: even more a were the place where new books would meet talk of impact - of attempts to synthesize sense of regret as Belfast is probably my their audience and key landmarks in the for a wider audience and consolidate new favourite of its many venues (most notably growth of my list. My biggest regret is that as baselines for new generations. This is department news associated for me with Mo Mowlam who I our displays have become bigger, the general reflected too in the pressures on young first met when she was a young lecturer at interest in books has reduced. I remember academics as to what they should write not connectivity - a pioneering new initiative and postgraduate course 19 Newcastle University and last met there). displaying proofs to an enthusiastic reception to mention the pressures that rapidly seem to engaging egypt 20 in 1979 of Multi Party Britain, an excellent prevent many writing anything longer than war studies at 50 21 So what, I have been asked, has changed? As book edited by Henry Drucker, which had a journal article at all. I have actually now taiwan 2012 takes over nottingham blog 21 to the Political Studies Association itself, it become toast by the time it was published lost count of the number of people who have new at northumbria 22 has become hugely bigger, more professional, a few weeks later on the day Margaret told me that they are looking forward to their hull celebrations continue 22 better funded, and now undertakes a range Thatcher’s election gave decisive new life retirement because at last they’ll be able to justin fisher appointed head of social sciences at brunel 22 of activities that no-one would have dreamed to two (or one) party dominance. And start work. new and familiar faces at southampton 23 off back in the 1970s and 80s. But that story more happily in 1983 of the 1st edition of launch of ‘sussex centre for study of corruption’ 24 has been related far better than I could do in our rather more successful collaboration Car to Far east anglia updates 24 Wyn Grant’s 60th anniversary history. Developments in British Politics when I All this, in combination with the increased the connection between david lloyd george and kirsty williams? 25 came away with a list on which some 70-80 globalization of academic life and use of Taking Risks academics had put down their names and English as the lingua franca of teaching engagement My own particular perspective on it has addresses to request inspection copies on and research, is the reason why the key obviously changed over time from my first publication. Today, only a handful of people conferences today both for commissioning programme of engagement 25 exposure at the 1979 conference where I would even be likely to look at a proof copy and research are generally now found beyond greek politics group engages with the media on crisis in greece 26 arrived with a small display stand and a of anything – let alone a new textbook – the range of my (improved) car.